Well-functioning markets allow: a. mutually beneficial trades to take place. b. property rights to be unnecessary components of effective distribution. c. producers to gain at the expense of consumers. d. consumers to gain at the expense of producers. e. producers to reap greater benefits since they have greater power in the market

a. mutually beneficial trades to take place.

Explanation:

Well-functioning markets allow mutually beneficial trades to take place.

This simply means that, in a perfectly competitive market, there are many buyers and sellers (price takers) of homogeneous products (standardized products with substitute) and the market is free (practically open) to all individuals or business entities that are willing to trade all their goods and services.

Hence, a well-functioning market such as a perfectly competitive market is characterized by the following features;

1. Perfect information.

2. No barriers, it is typically free.

3. Equilibrium price and quantity.

4. Many buyers and sellers.

5. Homogeneous products.

Examples of a perfectly competitive market are the Agricultural sector, e-commerce and the foreign exchange market.